Dutch police arrest terrorism suspect who ‘planned terror attack’

ALMERE, NETHERLANDS (BNO NEWS) — Dutch police have arrested a 34-year-old man who allegedly planned to join al-Qaeda in order to carry out a terrorist attack in Iraq or the Palestinian territories, officials said on Friday.

A brief statement from the country’s prosecutor’s office said the suspect was arrested on Tuesday in the city of Almere, which is located in the province of Flevoland. “The reason for the investigation is a report from the General Intelligence and Security Service (AIVD),” the statement said. “The man became the focus of an AIVD investigation into jihadist networks.”

According to the AIVD report, the suspect had planned to travel to Syria to join the al-Qaeda network and then possibly carry out a terrorist attack in either Iraq or the Palestinian territories.

Prosecutors said a magistrate in Rotterdam on Friday decided to extend the man’s detention for at least two weeks. The suspect’s name was not released.